Egypt goes to the polls in its first contested presidential election

2.14.06pm GMT Wed 7th Sep 2005

Egypt goes to the polls in its first contested presidential election

Egyptians are today voting in their first contested presidential election. However only just over half the population is registered to vote and there are many that believe the election will be a farce with President Hosni Mubarak almost certain to win.

There are Nine candidates are running against Mr Mubarak, but only two are considered significant: Noaman Gomaa of the liberal Wafd party and Ayman Nour of the al-Ghad party, which broke away from Wafd. However the Muslim Brotherhood had been banned from standing a candidate.

Past votes have been marred by widespread reports of vote rigging. In the May 25 referendum the official turnout was 54%, but judges who supervised the polling stations denied that figure and said the turnout did not exceed 3%. This election will again be overseen by Judges after Mubarak barred international observers.